College Football season is upon us

Ahh, my favorite time of year.

No, I'm not talking about the spectacular summer weather us Midwesterners are treated to, or the scantily-clad co-eds that are beginning to saunter back to college campuses across the country.

I'm talking about the return of The Final Score BlogSpot Dot Blog Net Dot Blogger Syrup Dot Com. And our favorite college football expert (and one-time meter maid) Andy Gamm regales us with yet another of his outstanding season previews.

This week, Andy (pictured) breaks down the Michigan Wolverines. And what a breakdown it is. Tit-for-tat, nobody knows the gridiron warriors of the Big Ten better than Andy, and he proves that with an abundance of insightful wisdom, such as this gem:

The key will be Threat and the offensive line.

Wow. And can you believe us humble, ordinary college football fans don't have to pay even a penny for analysis like that? Andy's really going out on a limb here to say that the redshirt freshman QB who has never taken a college snap before will be a key to Michigan's season. I don't know much about this Threat(?) guy, but I'll keep an eye on him now.

Finally, Andy slates Michigan for a 3-5 record in the conference, and its first home loss to in-state rival MSU in 18 years. Now Andy rarely picks MSU to beat Michigan in anything, so he must really be onto something if he has the Spartans winning in the Big House this fall.
Great preview, Andy. And I'm oh-so excited that you've decided to entertain your legion of fans for yet another season of college football.

fTv ...

will be back in full force within the next few days. Get ready to get a DickRod!

WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!!!!

FEBRUARY 14, 2008
CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA
IOWA 52
MICHIGAN 60

WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!!!!!!!!

Sampson in hot water with phone company

Well things aren't looking so hot right now for Coach Kelvin Sampson at Indiana. As I'm sure you've all heard, Coach Sampson's service provider is haggling him over some serious overage charges made the past several years. These are serious allegations, and ones that could affect his calling plan. Some sort of unlimited nights and weekends plan may be the solution to this problem. That, or Coach Sampson will need to pony up for some additional anytime minutes.

Oh and on a side note, the NCAA claims Coach Sampson has committed major recruiting violations. I don't put much stock into it considering the squeaky clean image of Big Ten sports. Scandals have been few and far between in this conference, and I don't expect any to start now. This is strictly a matter between Coach Sampson and his phone company.

For more on this story, keep an eye on the two best sports blogs in the business: The Six-Balled Man's Blog and The Final Score Dot Net Dot Blog Spot Dot Org Dot IHOP.

Dantonio: Pasadena, here we come!

Folks, Coach Mark Dantonio just locked up a stellar 2008 recruiting class today at Michigan State University. But is anyone really surprised? After all, Michigan State football is a pretty easy sell -- what, with their long tradition of success and Coach Dantonio's glittery career mark of 25-23. The fax machine at the Clara Bell Smith Center was no doubt being flooded with LOIs from the nation's most coveted recruits.

But check out this touching exchange today with incoming recruit Charles Burrell. Coach Dantonio asked the young lad to look down at his feet. Burrell did just that. And then the great orator and insprirer of men whsipered to him, "Now you just imagine those feet playing in the middle of the Rose Bowl because that's where they will be four or five years from now."

Spartan fans, you heard it straight from the horse's as .. pardon me .. mouth! Hedge your bets now on a 2011 or 2012 post-Christmas mini vacation to Pasadena.

Breaking News

A bombshell was dropped tonight in West Laffayette, as local legend Joe Tiller announced that the 2008 season will be his last. In 11 seasons at Purdue, four times Tiller led the Boilermakers to a season with less than five losses! And his postseason trophy case includes a pair of Alamo Bowl wins, along with proud triumphs in the Sun and Motor City Bowls.

Of course Tiller will be remembered for always having Purdue ready for "the big game." In 23 tries against Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State, Tiller's Boilermakers walked away victorious a whole five times!

Coach Tiller's hand-picked successor? Danny Hope, who pieced together a marvelous five-year run of 35-22 at Eastern Kentucky.

But it just won't be the same without Coach Tiller and his beautifuly bushy mustache prowling the sidelines at historic Ross Ade Stadium. His farewell tour will surely garner national headlines, and expect opposing schools across the Midwest to sell out instantly, with fans all wanting to tell their grandchildren that "they were there" for Coach Tiller's last trip to their stadium. And you can bet there won't be a dry eye in the house when Indiana comes a callin' for Coach T's last battle for the Old Oaken Bucket. The major networks will surely be fighting over the broadcast rights of that one.

LSU wins the battle. Ohio State wins the war.

OK, so LSU won the football game against Ohio State on Monday night. That's small potatoes compared to what the Buckeyes left New Orleans with -- their dignity. Sure, occasionally a football team finds a way to beat Jim Tressel's squad on the field, but you'll never beat them off of it. The day a school outclasses Coach Tressel's Buckeyes is the day I'll sell my pet goat, Brutus.

Even in defeat, the Buckeyes stayed together as one and displayed a sense of team unity that few institutions can rival. Tackle Alex Boone eloquently summed things up after the game:

“I couldn’t believe that guys were fighting with other guys, this isn’t a
barroom.” the massive junior tackle said. “You don’t need to be fighting with
your own teammates. We were here to play football, Some guys didn’t get that
though. But that’s not Ohio State football."

“Everyone was fighting with each other and I’m like, ‘Calm down. It’s okay. It’s half time.’ But everyone’s like, ‘This is your fault,’ and then ‘No, this is your fault.’ I was like ‘Calm down, we got a half to go.’ But some guys panicked like the game was over.”

Ohio State never gave up, and fought tooth and nail to the end. That's really all that matters in sports. And at halftime, four Honors Students at Ohio State University showed off the school's academic brilliance by proudly displaying the state's name in a breathtaking flag formation.

A tip of the hat to the Buckeyes; the BCS Title game was yet another banner night in a season of banner moments for the Big Ten Conference.